Tuscan 2 'S' vs Sagaris
Discussion
I enjoyed a spin in a Tuscan 2 S yesterday and thought I'd share my comparison to the Sagaris, as I drove the Sagaris there and back.
I was actually surprised at how different the cars were, given how many parts they share. But the Saggy has definitely more in common with a T350 than a Tuscan. Overall though I was very impressed. It did feel a bit like a TVR from an earlier era but there's a lot that's good about that.
A lot has been said about how great the tuscan seats are but personally I find that you sit higher in them and roof on, I had considerably less headroom in the Tusc than I do in my Sag. The original Saggy seats are better for me. The tusc even in S form is definitely a little more compliant ride wise and in combination with it's higher ride height could be hussled effectively down some roads that would have the Sagaris hopping about. It's narrower body is also an advantage down the classic british B road. However I think there's no question that the Sagaris has more grip available on the smoother, faster A roads. Handling wise it's definitely a little 'dartier' but personally I quite liked that. The Sagaris is more forgiving though and perhaps a little more confidence inspiring. The Tuscan had the earlier wacky dash and two spoke steering wheel, which, while cool and imaginative, takes more getting used to than the Sagaris interior. Personally I find the two spoke wheel less intuitive and suspect it might be a disadvantage in terms of correcting a big slide for example.
There was next to bugger all in it in a straight line, as should be the case but the two cars sound pleasingly different. The Saggy a little growlier and more gurgly, the tusc a little smoother sounding. Both are great. But the tusc didn't pop or bang on the overrun - something of a Sagaris trademark. If anything the tuscan felt like it had a little more poke lower down than my Saggy. Neither I nor the salesman revved it right out, so I can't comment on their relative top ends.
The big plus of the Tusc was immediately obvious the moment the roof was removed. I was amazed how like a full convertible it felt and was expecting it to feel like other 'targa's' I'd driven but the same narrow windscreen that feels a bit claustrophobic roof on allows a panoramic view of the sky and definitely adds to the enjoyment in tunnels.
Wierdly opening and closing the doors happens more slowly on the tuscan and it seems to need to lower the windows further. The doors and windows work very well and quickly on my Sagaris. I also find the extra fibre glass around the window sill a bit unnecessary on the tusc.
Both great, characterful and seriously exciting cars to drive and in an ideal world I'd have one of each! I left not quite seeing the point of the Tuscan Convertible but notice that the roof has been shaped to give more headroom inside.
I was actually surprised at how different the cars were, given how many parts they share. But the Saggy has definitely more in common with a T350 than a Tuscan. Overall though I was very impressed. It did feel a bit like a TVR from an earlier era but there's a lot that's good about that.
A lot has been said about how great the tuscan seats are but personally I find that you sit higher in them and roof on, I had considerably less headroom in the Tusc than I do in my Sag. The original Saggy seats are better for me. The tusc even in S form is definitely a little more compliant ride wise and in combination with it's higher ride height could be hussled effectively down some roads that would have the Sagaris hopping about. It's narrower body is also an advantage down the classic british B road. However I think there's no question that the Sagaris has more grip available on the smoother, faster A roads. Handling wise it's definitely a little 'dartier' but personally I quite liked that. The Sagaris is more forgiving though and perhaps a little more confidence inspiring. The Tuscan had the earlier wacky dash and two spoke steering wheel, which, while cool and imaginative, takes more getting used to than the Sagaris interior. Personally I find the two spoke wheel less intuitive and suspect it might be a disadvantage in terms of correcting a big slide for example.
There was next to bugger all in it in a straight line, as should be the case but the two cars sound pleasingly different. The Saggy a little growlier and more gurgly, the tusc a little smoother sounding. Both are great. But the tusc didn't pop or bang on the overrun - something of a Sagaris trademark. If anything the tuscan felt like it had a little more poke lower down than my Saggy. Neither I nor the salesman revved it right out, so I can't comment on their relative top ends.
The big plus of the Tusc was immediately obvious the moment the roof was removed. I was amazed how like a full convertible it felt and was expecting it to feel like other 'targa's' I'd driven but the same narrow windscreen that feels a bit claustrophobic roof on allows a panoramic view of the sky and definitely adds to the enjoyment in tunnels.
Wierdly opening and closing the doors happens more slowly on the tuscan and it seems to need to lower the windows further. The doors and windows work very well and quickly on my Sagaris. I also find the extra fibre glass around the window sill a bit unnecessary on the tusc.
Both great, characterful and seriously exciting cars to drive and in an ideal world I'd have one of each! I left not quite seeing the point of the Tuscan Convertible but notice that the roof has been shaped to give more headroom inside.
Edited by the pits on Wednesday 20th September 14:19
I bought the Tuscan S Convertible for exactly the reasons you say you don't prefer it, ie. the ride is a bit softer, the car that little bit more comfortable. I'm not one who races everywhere I go, I like to take it easy sometimes, the Tuscan suits this style a lot more I think. I plan to take the Tuscan to Tuscany sometime next year and really look forward to it, I don't think I would like to do it in a Saggy.
When you look at the two cars side by side I believe all the above and in The Pits write up look obvious if you know what I mean.
I was surprised about the lack of popping and banging on over run, mine does it and it sounds great, it seems to be even louder after I had the first service.
Anyway, the thing is they are both great cars and if we all liked the same it would be such a boring world, we wouldn't even need pistonheads.....there would be nothing to discuss!!
When you look at the two cars side by side I believe all the above and in The Pits write up look obvious if you know what I mean.
I was surprised about the lack of popping and banging on over run, mine does it and it sounds great, it seems to be even louder after I had the first service.
Anyway, the thing is they are both great cars and if we all liked the same it would be such a boring world, we wouldn't even need pistonheads.....there would be nothing to discuss!!
I actually came away thinking the tusc to be marginally the better everyday road car of the two. Sorry if it didn't come across that way. Throw in the ability to take the roof off and it's a seriously attractive proposition for a TVR fan like me. Given I own a Caterham for track days, I'm actually considering trading my car in for a Tuscan.
I hope you get to Tuscany, what a great place to take your car. Enjoy!
I hope you get to Tuscany, what a great place to take your car. Enjoy!
Vinniep,
I came back from taking the Tuscan 2 S to Tuscany a few weeks ago -it was fantastic - the car did 1600 miles through some pretty high temperatures (as high as 42 degrees) and it didn't miss a beat all the way there and back.
you'll have a ball - I think the car is just right for that kind of trip - comfortable, fast, plenty of boot space, and the Italians just love it!!!
I still haven't sorted out pictures, but will post then before too long!
Richard.
I came back from taking the Tuscan 2 S to Tuscany a few weeks ago -it was fantastic - the car did 1600 miles through some pretty high temperatures (as high as 42 degrees) and it didn't miss a beat all the way there and back.
you'll have a ball - I think the car is just right for that kind of trip - comfortable, fast, plenty of boot space, and the Italians just love it!!!
I still haven't sorted out pictures, but will post then before too long!
Richard.
rejn said:
Vinniep,
I came back from taking the Tuscan 2 S to Tuscany a few weeks ago -it was fantastic - the car did 1600 miles through some pretty high temperatures (as high as 42 degrees) and it didn't miss a beat all the way there and back.
you'll have a ball - I think the car is just right for that kind of trip - comfortable, fast, plenty of boot space, and the Italians just love it!!!
I still haven't sorted out pictures, but will post then before too long!
Richard.
I came back from taking the Tuscan 2 S to Tuscany a few weeks ago -it was fantastic - the car did 1600 miles through some pretty high temperatures (as high as 42 degrees) and it didn't miss a beat all the way there and back.
you'll have a ball - I think the car is just right for that kind of trip - comfortable, fast, plenty of boot space, and the Italians just love it!!!
I still haven't sorted out pictures, but will post then before too long!
Richard.
regn,
Get those pics posted!!
If you don't mind me asking, what route did you take, I intend to end up just south of Pisa.
I fancy getting to the South of France somewhere ASAP, then through Monaco, along the coast into Liguria, stopping off along the way in San Remo then down along the coast via Viareggio and on to Santa Luce, just south of Pisa. I also really do fancy the Stelvio Pass on the way back, it looks incredible, one of the routes you have to do once, unless somebody out there has better ideas??!!
Get those pics posted!!
If you don't mind me asking, what route did you take, I intend to end up just south of Pisa.
I fancy getting to the South of France somewhere ASAP, then through Monaco, along the coast into Liguria, stopping off along the way in San Remo then down along the coast via Viareggio and on to Santa Luce, just south of Pisa. I also really do fancy the Stelvio Pass on the way back, it looks incredible, one of the routes you have to do once, unless somebody out there has better ideas??!!
Vinnie,
We actually cheated a bit, and got the motorail car train from Calais down to Nice. From Nice, it's a great great East into Italy, along the Azure coast - great scenery, great roads (all bridges and tunnels, along the side of cliffs).
We spent a night at Pisa, and then drove south down to Chianti - there is one road around Chianti (it's the main road, through Rada in Chianti, etc.) which is just stunning - empty, great tarmac, good scenery, and brilliant curves. I was quite new to the Tuscan, but so many corners you get a chance to push on a bit more at each one, and easy to get the car sliding a bit!!! One downer is that local petrol is rubbish, so I got a bit of pinking when revving hard - especially when hot (and it was hot!).
From Chianti, we drove South down to Sienna, and then on to Rome, before driving on to Naples and getting the Ferry to Sicily! On the way back we cheated again, and got a ferry from Sicily up to Genoa, and then spent a couple of days in Piedmonte - the roads aren't as good as Tuscany, but the food is probably even better!!!
Let me know if you want more details - or if you want to grab a beer and compare notes!!!
The police were just great in Italy - really friendly, and they all wanted to know about the car, and they all encouraged us to drive properly and not slowly!!!
Wish I was still there...
Richard.
We actually cheated a bit, and got the motorail car train from Calais down to Nice. From Nice, it's a great great East into Italy, along the Azure coast - great scenery, great roads (all bridges and tunnels, along the side of cliffs).
We spent a night at Pisa, and then drove south down to Chianti - there is one road around Chianti (it's the main road, through Rada in Chianti, etc.) which is just stunning - empty, great tarmac, good scenery, and brilliant curves. I was quite new to the Tuscan, but so many corners you get a chance to push on a bit more at each one, and easy to get the car sliding a bit!!! One downer is that local petrol is rubbish, so I got a bit of pinking when revving hard - especially when hot (and it was hot!).
From Chianti, we drove South down to Sienna, and then on to Rome, before driving on to Naples and getting the Ferry to Sicily! On the way back we cheated again, and got a ferry from Sicily up to Genoa, and then spent a couple of days in Piedmonte - the roads aren't as good as Tuscany, but the food is probably even better!!!
Let me know if you want more details - or if you want to grab a beer and compare notes!!!
The police were just great in Italy - really friendly, and they all wanted to know about the car, and they all encouraged us to drive properly and not slowly!!!
Wish I was still there...
Richard.
What a fantastic trip.
I took my Sagaris to the Monza GP last year but drove it all the way. It was superb and survived insane traffic jams in the Italian heat. But I kept getting pulled over by the carabinieri just so they could check out the car. As you know the Italians go nuts for TVRs.
Rejn is your car sapphire pearl or whatever it's called? Either way superb colour choice.
I took my Sagaris to the Monza GP last year but drove it all the way. It was superb and survived insane traffic jams in the Italian heat. But I kept getting pulled over by the carabinieri just so they could check out the car. As you know the Italians go nuts for TVRs.
Rejn is your car sapphire pearl or whatever it's called? Either way superb colour choice.
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